Animals
Sunday, June 4, 2023
A SoHum Otter Gets its Name
Posted By Mark Larson on Sun, Jun 4, 2023 at 9:16 AM
Tce yac, a newly created mosaic otter, was celebrated with a party on World Otter Day (Wednesday, May 31st) and installed into the visitor center at Humboldt Redwoods State Park near Weott. The otter, covered with over 40 mosaic images of flora and fauna found in southern Humboldt parks, was created as gift for the visitor center by Weott mosaic artist Jennifer Amidi.
Earlier on April 21, Amidi had arranged with teachers at the Agnes J Johnson Charter School in Weott to have children there vote to name the otter. School staffer Traci Chadbourne Speelman, of the Wailaki tribe, provided the three name choices for the ballot and the students chose Tee yac (“chee yash”) which means “otter” in Wailaki.
Monday, May 22, 2023
Goth Day Revisited in Ferndale
Posted By Ollie Hancock on Mon, May 22, 2023 at 4:03 PM
In the foggy Ferndale Cemetery, a darkly dressed group walked through between headstones and crypts. Veils, hats, trench coats and platform Doc Martens — you’d be forgiven for assuming there was a funeral. This grim procession was not grieving but rather celebrating Goth Day Revisited. For the second year, a gaggle of goths haunted the Old Steeple in Ferndale on May 20. (See highlights in the slideshow below.)
Inside the old church-turned-music venue, vendors showcased their creepy crafts: insects preserved in jars, stained glass, monster dolls, confections and macabre jewelry. Organizer Gini Noggle beamed at the turnout of local creators and friends, especially the furry guests from the Companion Animals Foundation.
“Hi, welcome to Goth Day. Here’s a kitten,” Noggle said, welcoming goths from all walks of life.
Kelly Sprague is a fantasy and "alternative reborn" artist who crafts eerily realistic baby dolls. Not all of them are quite human. Her table hosted baby clowns, werewolf pups, witches and mermaids. Goth Day was the first time she’s brought them out.
“The kids walk in and see them and turn around like, ‘Nope,’” Sprague said. “To me, when people tell me that they look creepy, it's a compliment. It means that I did a good job making them look real.”
Friday, April 28, 2023
Karuna Matata - Hooves of Hope Fundraiser
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 6:00 AM
More fun is on tap for this weekend. It’s the Karuna Matata - Hooves of Hope Fundraiser, happening Sunday, April 30, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Almquist Lumber Company ($35). This family-friendly event has something for everyone with mobile ax-throwing, lawn games, live music by George Ruth, face painting, balloon sculptures, local wine, cider and beer, a miniature mule kissing booth (where’s my Binaca?) and Lost Coast Brewery's root beer. There will be raffle tickets, local art and vegan food available for purchase. And the best part about all this fun? It benefits the local animal rescue and sanctuary. Pony up and get your tickets online at karunahumboldt.com/events.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Godwit Days Kicks Off This Week
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Mon, Apr 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM
It’s April, and in these wildlife friendly parts, that means it's time to go birdin’. The annual Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival takes flight April 13-16 in spots around the county with many of the festival activities happening at the Arcata Community Center. This year's in-person festival offers multiple field trips each day, keynote lectures, including Tiana Williams-Claussen and Chris West presenting “California Condor Recovery in Northern California: Prey-go-neesh Flies Free” on Friday, April 14, a free opening reception, vendors, a silent auction, a banquet, free nature crafts and so much more. Get more info and sign up for field trips/events at godwitdays.org.
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Condor Lecture at Sequoia Park Zoo
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 6:00 AM
The Sequoia Park Zoo Conservation Lecture Series continues this week with a hybrid event (in-person and on Zoom) on the Yurok Tribe’s reintroduction of the condor to the region. Chris West, Manager of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program, discusses the conservation history of the endangered California condor in California Condor Reintroduction Update, happening Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. in Sequoia Park Zoo’s Flamingo Room (free). There will be a zoo update slideshow at 6:45 p.m. with the lecture and Q&A following. To attend virtually, find the Zoom at SequoiaParkZoo.net or through the zoo’s social media.
Friday, August 12, 2022
On the Waggin' at Woofstock
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Aug 12, 2022 at 5:00 AM
It’s the biggest dog day of summer! Sequoia Humane Society’s annual Woofstock Festival takes over Halverson Park , Saturday, Aug. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. ($5, $10 family of four). Humboldt’s largest dog party is an all-day play date with a mutt strut, dog-centric booths, crafts, water games, microchipping, a grooming station, food, beer garden, doggy playground and more. Plus, this year sees the return of the battle of the bands from 4 to 6 p.m. So wiggle into your harness and drag your owners to Woofstock. The homeless pets at the Sequoia Humane Society thank you.
Friday, December 31, 2021
2021 in Pictures
Posted By Mark Larson on Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 8:00 AM
It’s been a pandemic year of daily walking for my wife and me, and we never left Humboldt County. From January through April, we continued to explore our local trails and enjoyed the wildlife and emerging spring flowers without attending any events or gatherings.
Once we got our Moderna vaccination shots No. 1 and No. 2 as soon as possible last spring, we joined our vaccinated friends and neighbors in experiencing some euphoria, masked up to attend a mix of community outdoor events in May, June and July. Then our local COVID-19 positive-test rate and hospitalizations reach all-time highs from August onward. No county fair attendance for us in August and for the rest of the year, we only attended in-person events that required all attendees to be vaccinated. In this slideshow are some highlights of what we enjoyed throughout it all in our county.
Once we got our Moderna vaccination shots No. 1 and No. 2 as soon as possible last spring, we joined our vaccinated friends and neighbors in experiencing some euphoria, masked up to attend a mix of community outdoor events in May, June and July. Then our local COVID-19 positive-test rate and hospitalizations reach all-time highs from August onward. No county fair attendance for us in August and for the rest of the year, we only attended in-person events that required all attendees to be vaccinated. In this slideshow are some highlights of what we enjoyed throughout it all in our county.
Thursday, May 20, 2021
FOAM Otter Lecture
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, May 20, 2021 at 6:00 AM
What’s new with Humboldt State University’s Citizen Science river otter study? Tune in for an update with HSU graduate student Karlee Jewell at Merging Citizen Science and Art: A Year in Review + A Year Ahead on Friday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. Jewell will share project updates and findings, and talk about her graduate research on our playful pals. This lecture, sponsored by Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM), will be delivered via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89934694851#success.
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Godwit Days Are Here Again
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 10:37 AM
Get your godwits about you, birders — the 2021 Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival is here! The annual event is presented virtually this year via Zoom and runs April 16 through 18 with live-streamed sessions, pre-recorded lectures and more. Sessions include the Big Hour at the Arcata Marsh with Rob Fowler of Fowlerope Birding Tours and Gary Bloomfield, Curiosities and Oddities in the Humboldt State Wildlife Museum: A Tour with curator Tamar Danufsky, and “The Language of Birds” keynote lecture by Nathan Pieplow. The winner of Humboldt County’s Bird of the Year for 2020 and winners in the 18th annual student bird art contest will also be announced. Although free, festival goers are asked to drop a few clams to keep the festival alive and flapping for years to come. Get the full schedule and sign up at www.godwitdays.org.
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Redwood Region Audubon Society Presents Online Raptor Lecture
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Soar with the eagles during Redwood Region Audubon Society’s latest online presentation How to ID Raptorial Masters of the Sky - Eagles, Hawks and Falcons in Flight on Friday, March 12 from 7 to 8 p.m. at www.rras.org/home.aspx (free). Learn tips and tricks about raptor identification on the wing and at a distance, as well as some local raptor viewing spots to practice your skills from Russ Namitz, field biologist, pelagic bird guide and current holder of the Oregon Big Year record of 381 species.
